Disconnecting switch



1.x, May 22, 1962 V. BAGNAGATTI DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n i m 1 m mnwwfi ll A4/3 3 '6 m F May 22, 1962 v. BAGNAGATTI 3,036,168

DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed July 12, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,036,168 Patented May 22, 1952 3,036,168 DECONNECTING SWITCH Virginie Bagnagatti, Via Ugolini 24, Milan, Italy Filed .iuly 12, 1960, Ser. No. 42,413 Claims priority, application Italy July 18, 1959 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) This invention relates to a disconnecting switch of the pantograph type adapt for the connection of high tension electric lines, and more particularly to an improved rotating contact device for said disconnecting switches.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for the engaging of the various parts of the current carrying conductors which will be capable to compensate and absorb the transversal and vertical oscillations to which are usually subjected the upper suspended high tension conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of mechanic and electric connection between the high tension conductors and the elements of the pantograph type disconnecting switch which is not disturbed by the oscillations of the movable arms of the pantograph and this in order to assure the electric contact continuity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel mechanic connection between the high tension conductors and the panotgraph type elements, in which a continuous external action upon the pantographs arms is not needed and this in order to maintain the mechanic and, therefore, electric contact between the various engaging parts.

Already known are disconnecting switch s of the pantograph type adapted for the connection of high tension electric lines in which the arms of the pantograph are provided with current conductor elements acting as tongs and lying on the same plane; said current conductor elements, when the pantograph is raised, being closed to grip the suspended conductor, or the element connected to said conductors, in order to tap, through the pantograph type disconnecting switch, the upper suspended high tension conductors with the shunt line conductors.

Said known disconnecting switches present several disadvantages and above all they do not guarantee a continuous and safe electric contact.

It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages experienced in the use of conventional disconnecting switches.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a further reading of the description and appended claims.

With those objects in view the present invention mainly consists in a disconnecting switch of the pantograph type adapted for the connection of high tension electric lines, which comprises at least two conductor bars laying and movable over two planes between them different and parallel, each bar being head fixed and projecting from the upper end of one of the two movable arms of the pantograph, and a contact mounted turnably around its vertical axis and vertically oscillating in an elastic manner into a support secured to the upper conductor or conductors of the high tension electric line, in order that said rotating contact can be rotated of about 90 and engaged, when the disconnecting switch is closed, by the two conductor bars.

The rotating contact is electrically connected to the upper suspended conductors of the high tension electric line while the conductor bars are electrically connected to the arms of the pantograph and, through said arms, to the conductor of the shunt line in order to obtain the flow of the current, when the switch is closed, from the upper to the shunt line conductors.

The rotating contact, according a preferred embodi ment of the present invention, is constituted by a plurality of lamellar contacts, more or less springed, which are provided with a large contact surface. The rotating contact is kept in a rest position by one or more return springs, said springs helping also to keep, when the disconnecting switch is closed, the contact between the rotating contact and the conductor bars of the movable arms of the pantograph.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a frontal view illustrating the disconnecting switch in closed position and in its whole;

FIGURE 2 is a side view illustrating the disconnecting switch in closed position in its whole;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the improved rotating contact of the disconnecting switch of FIGURE 1, in opened position and with the pantograph in its final closing period;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating the improved rotating contact in closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of theupper part of the pantograph showing the position of the conductor bars when the disconnecting switch is in a full open position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan View showing the improved rotating contact in opened position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the rotating in closed position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of a different embodiment of the rotating contact in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, with 1 is generally indicated a disconnecting switch provided with arms 2 and 2 movable in an upward rising direction. On the upper arm 2 of the contact members or pantograph are head fixed the conductor bars 3 upwardly projecting; on the other arm 2' are identically fixed the conductor bars 4. Said conductor bars 3 and 4 lay over two different planes, between them parallel, and are electrically connected, through arms 2 and 2' of the pantograph, to the conductor or conductors of the shunt line 8'. The upper suspended conductors of the high tension main electric line are indicated with 8 and carry thereon overhung the contact element or rotating contact 5 which is formed by a plurality of blades superposed and opposed, conductors 8 are electrically connected to blades 5' by means plate 13, electric wires 14 which pass through shaft 6. Said rotating contact is mounted over the shaft 6 which is turnable around its vertical axis and sliding inside the support 7 connected to the conductors 8 so that the contact 5 can move in a vertical direction, against the counter action of spring 9, inside said support 7.

Two springs 10, acting on the arms 11 laterally projecting from the shaft 6, are engaged with one end to the support 7 in order to keep said shaft in the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 that is with the bigger blade surface parallel to the conductors 8; said springs 10* will return the contact 5 to that position any time it is there from removed. The number of the conductor bars 3 and 4 can be changed as shown in the embodiment of FIG- URE 8 where only one conductor bar is carried by each pantograph arm.

The device operate as follows:

With the disconnecting switch in open position the arms 2 and 2 of the pantograph are in a lowered position and the conductor bars 3 and 4 lay in a position almost horizontal as shown in FIGURE 5. The rotating contact 5, due to the action'of springs 10, is parallel to the conductors 8 as shown inFIGURES 3 and 6. Being the disconnecting switch in an open position there is no flow of current from the conductors 8 to the shunt line conduotor 8.

When the pantograph is raised, by means of any known manually or motor operated device not shown, the upper arms 2 and 2' are brought, by passing through the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 3, into the closing final position shown in FIGURES 1-24 and 7, and conductor bars 3 and 4 are each moved along a plane parallel to the drawings plane and between them spaced in a vertical direction.

On their closing movement the conductor bars 3 and 4 abut against the contact 5 and they act against it in the direction of the couple B (FIGURE 6) which cause the rotation of said contact 5 around the vertical axis 6 in orderto take it in the 90 rotated position when the bars 3 and 4 have reached the closed final position as clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 7.

The bars 3 and 4 operate against the contact 5 as a non-cutting scissors; the counter-action of springs 10 determines the electric contact continuity between blades 5 of contact 5 and conductor bars 3 and 4 when in closed final position; in said closed position the bars 3 and 4 do not act with any force against the contact 5.

Due to the big contact surface of the blades and to the effect of the springs 10, the electric contact continuity is assured also if the pantograph arms are not fully extended. Said contact continuity being furthermore assured by the fact that the force is normal to the opening direction of thearms of the pantograph.

The current flows, when the disconnecting switch is closed, from the conductors 8 to the conductors of the shunt line through the contact 5, bars 3-4 and arms 2 and 2 of the pantograph.

Eventual oscillations in direction of shaft 6 of the contact '5, due to external causes acting on the conductors 8, do not alter the electric contact.

The disposition and orientation of the bars, when the disconnecting switch is closed, may be changed by assuming a crossed position (FIGURE 8) or by providing a different number of bars without changing the main characteristics of the present invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a. disconnecting switch of the pantograph type adapt for the connection of high tension electric lines, it is not intended to be limited to the details, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully :reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art, fairlyconstitute essential, characteristics of the generic or specific. aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch of the character described in combination, a turnable contact element; means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position; biasing means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated contact members mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal'to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on opposite sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable contact element from its inoperative to its operative position against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said movable contact element in such operative position.

2. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element; means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position and reciprocably along said first pivot axis between a normal rest position and a position of maximum displacement; biasing means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated contact members mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on opposite sides thereof tending thereby to displace said contact element along said first pivot axis from said normal rest position thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turns said turnable connation, a turnable contact element; means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position and reciprocably along said first pivot axis between a normal rest position and a position of maximum displacement; first biasing means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; second biasing means permanently tending to move said contact element into said normal rest position; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated con tact members mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on opposite sides thereof tending thereby to displace said contact element along said first pivot axis from said normal rest position thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable contact element from its inoperative to its operative position against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said movable contact element in such operative position.

4. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element having at least two sides spaced from each other; means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning bars mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the two sides of said contact element in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on said two spaced sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable contact eelment from its inoperative to its operative position against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said sides of said movable contact element in such operative position.

5. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element having at least two sides spaced and resiliently biased from each other; means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position; spring means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated contact members mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the greatest spacing between the two sides of said contact element in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on said two spaced sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable contact element from its inoperative to its operative position against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said sides of said movable contact element against the bias therebetween in such operative position.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the length of said contact members in the direction of said first pivot axis exceeds the length of said sides of said contact element in the direction of said first pivot axis.

7. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element; resiliently suspended means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position; biasing means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated contact members mounted for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sidis thereof, means comprising extendable and retractable arms for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on opposite sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable contact element from its inoperative to its operative posi- 6 tion against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said movable contact element in such operative position.

8. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element; resiliently suspended means for supporting said contact element turnably about a first pivot axis for turning movements from an inoperative position into at least one operative turned position; biasing means permanently tending to turn said turnable contact element from said operative to said inoperative position thereof; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, said contact arrangement including two elongated contact members mounted scissors-like for turning relative to each other about a second pivot axis normal to and movable along said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means comprising arms movable from a retracted position in which said arms are folded on themselves to a position in which said arms are fully extended for turning said elongated contact members about said second pivot axis so that the same engage said turnable contact element on opposite sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said turnable cont-act element from its inoperative to its operative position against the action of said biasing means, closely engaging said movable contaot element in such operative position.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one of said contact members is connected to each of said arms, and said contact members are on the opposite side of said second pivot axis from said arms in the fully extended condition thereof.

10. In a switch of the character described, in combination, a turnable contact element, means for turnably supporting said contact element about a first pivot axis for angular movement from an inoperative position into an operative position; means for permanently biasing said contact element into said inopenative position; a contact arrangement for engaging said contact element, including at least two elongated contact members turnable relative to each other about a second pivot axis perpendicular to and passing through said first pivot axis, said elongated contact members being spaced from each other in the direction of said second pivot axis and located on opposite sides thereof, means for turning said contact members about said second pivot axis so that the contact members engage said contact element at opposite sides thereof and, upon actuation of said turning means, turn said contact element from its inoperative to its operative position against action of said biasing means, said contact members engaging substantial portions of the respective sides of said contact element when the latter is turned to said operative position.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein said contact element is turnable through substantially about said first pivot axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,370 Leopold July 29, 1952 

